(CNN) - The National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $162,000 on an independent expenditure effort in Alaska, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday.

The money represents the first influx of cash by the NRSC into the Senate race, suggesting Republicans are worried about the seat. The funds are most likely an advertising buy for Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller, indicating that Republicans are nervous about the tight race.
But a spokesman for the NRSC would not comment except to confirm the expenditure, as there is a separation between the NRSC and its independent expenditure arm.

Republican Tea Party backed candidate Joe Miller will face Democratic Mayor Scott McAdams and incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski who is running as a write-in candidate in the November election. Murkowski lost the Republican primary to Miller in August.

Miller has been at the center of two recent controversies that have received national attention. A reporter was arrested at a campaign event he held in Alaska on Sunday. And on Monday, the candidate admitted he had been disciplined for misusing government computers, but said that was not the reason he left his job as attorney for the North Star Borough, a revelation he made to Chief National Correspondent John King on John King, USA.

Recent polling suggests the race between Murkowski and Miller is close. A recent CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll showed Murkowski just two points behind Miller. Democrat McAdams trailed Murkowski by 14 points, while four percent said they were either undecided or not supporting any of the three candidates listed in the survey.

soundoff(27 Responses)

ExxonMobil loves this moron and Alaska.They will leave it an oilstained wasteland when they are done with it.

October 20, 2010 12:15 pm at 12:15 pm |

Cosmo

Maybe now Miller can hire an enitre army of bodyguards and demand that people not look directly look at him without his permision.

October 20, 2010 12:17 pm at 12:17 pm |

duke

The Republicans campaign strategy is similar to how the washington redskins prepare for a NFL season,
They are trying to buy elections,
From paladino to whittman we have been shown that this election is about who is going to dig the deepest in their pockets.
Fyi china has the cash flow that it takes,
India has the work force,
And America has the idiots who will fall because of greedy capitalist who control the process.

October 20, 2010 12:22 pm at 12:22 pm |

DIANA

Is he going to use it to hire more security in order to keep that "gotcha media" away. Anything to keep the people from finding out who you really are.

I hope after Palin, Alaskins learn and not vote for another Republican. Especially one so close to the crook they had before as governor.

October 20, 2010 12:42 pm at 12:42 pm |

Republicans is smart in the head area

Is the money going to be used to pay for his goon squad to "arrest" reporters?

October 20, 2010 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Ferret out the B.S.

Everyone needs to watch out for this guy, using East Berlin as a model.

October 20, 2010 12:59 pm at 12:59 pm |

T'SAH from Virginia

It's NOT about the MONEY – you can pour in a TRILLION dollars and it will NOT be enough if the CANDIDATE is not RIGHT!! If the people are ONLY behind Jim Miller because of SARAH PALIN – should think TWICE!!!

Even though I would be for the DEMOCRAT – it is UNLIKELY the Democrat would win!! I am going for MURKOWSKI only because she is JUST a POINT behind "Miller High Life" and she was DOGGED by the GOP and the Tea Party!!! She's a trooper and she has MOST of AK behind her. I truly believe that in the end – the Democrats, who are voting for McAdams, will realize that he cannot win and will VOTE for Murkowski BEFORE they would even CONSIDER "Miller High Life"..... Just my opinion and take it for what it is worth!!!

All the VOTERS have to keep in mind is that “the DAMN rent is too HIGH” and that will get better as President Obama continues to MOVE AMERICA FORWARD (actually, I don’t think it will help the RENT but I had to through that in there….LOL)

This is T’SAH from Virginia and from now on this will be my argument for the rest of the election season – the DAMN rent’s too high and duhMINTYnotSoFreshness started the Recession!!!

So they should be worried. For those of you who thought Palin would be a lighting-rod in the GOPers political scene, how sweet it is to see your wishes come true. She most definitely HAS rallied up the TeaPers, but not, I think, the way you had originally hoped. . .

Not the Republican Party, but the Tea Party should be afraid, very afraid, of Joe Miller's bid for Senator. His tactics so far have been all too anti-American to suit the Tea Party, never mind others. Tactics such as intimidation of questioners, refusal to speak to the press, an overall wise-acre attitude do not make for a convincing candidate. We should send the money towards Murkowski. Seriously. It is not too alte to mend that bridge and bring her back in.

October 20, 2010 01:18 pm at 1:18 pm |

Do Ya Think That Hiring Blackwater Thugs To Rough Up Reporters Is Making Herr Miller and His Brownshirts A Little Nervous?

Miller is looking for a lifeline from the Koch-roach brothers, Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce, China Division

October 20, 2010 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

King

Alaska must be a widerness. You mean there are not enough dems out there to vote the dem in to prevent a government lock down for the next two years by these wackos

October 20, 2010 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |

Sniffit

Why don't you try reporting on something real. For example, how shady this guy's "security team" situation is with respect to the journalist they handcuffed...and how they never mentioned it had anything to do with the bathroom, but suddenly Miller is claiming it does...or how they threatened to handcuff other journalists who were seeking to interview the journalist they had already handcuffed...or how 2 of them were active duty soldiers without the proper paperwork and authorization from their commanding officer to do what they were doing, etc. These are all FACTS...useful FACTS that concerned and intelligent voters can use to make informed decisions in deciding for whom they want to vote...not drivel about who is doing the best job trying to buy power in this country so they can make money and maintain power by pandering to corporate and special interests.

October 20, 2010 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |

markiejoe

Republicans are "nervous about the race" in Alaska because Miller has shown himself to be a moron and totally ill-equipped to serve in the United States Congress.

Unless, of course, the people of Alaska and the NRSC want to make over the United States in the image and likeness of East Germany. Then Joe's their man.

October 20, 2010 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

C.M.

The longer this guy's (Miller) campaign lasts, the more sleaze that comes out. I bet he wishes that Election Day was yesterday.

October 20, 2010 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

Steve (the real one)

duke
The Republicans campaign strategy is similar to how the washington redskins prepare for a NFL season,
They are trying to buy elections,
-----------
So the dems are raising insane amounts of money and yet whining about GOP money? You guys are really laughable, doing the same as the GOP yet whining about when they do it! If the GOP is rying to buy the election and if the DEMs are not, explain need for all that DEM money! As I said before money is NOT going to pull any levers in November! The people however will! Wonder why the dems are nor running on their record. They are however, running as far and as fast as they can from Pelosi and Obama!

October 20, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Rush Gibbs

This man is an idiot, does he not realize he could get some of that stimulus money that Obama gave the corrupt unions if he would only worship at the altar of Harry Reid. We Democrat liberals do not need an honest man in the Senate upsetting our plans to help the dope smokers steal more money from hard working Americans. The fools.

October 20, 2010 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |

Sniffit

Yeah, and don't forget to mention that his prior employer, who caught him messing around on the computers, has actually been interviewed and had some interesting things to say about whether they wanted Miller working for them.

October 20, 2010 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

sammieb51

The kind of country this guys wants - (1) a Berlin Wall (forgetting that our "wall" would be thousands of miles long), (2) unidentified (and unlicensed) private security forces that can detain any of us at any time, and (3) no press allowed - I think he should probably move to Iraq, he'd fit in better. Apparently he only likes the rights afforded us under the 1st Amendment if he has them. And the Teabags stand for what again - The Constitution and God??? And Obama is the Hitler of our time ..... OK, just want to make sure I have the facts straight!

October 20, 2010 01:58 pm at 1:58 pm |

carlos

let them spend their money, colorful condom decorations, 20 people showed up and there were 25 goons checking those 20 tea tards who showed up.

October 20, 2010 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

barry

Senator Miller the country is behind you!

October 20, 2010 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

welches, oregon

I think it's a real shame that all this money goes toward yet another billion dollar campaign. Imagine how this money spent on campaigns could help the Country. Big corporations are doing the donating this election cycle because no one else has any money to spare. Sure you might contribute $20 or even $100, but these candidates are looking for BIG money that only BIG corporations can provide. Such a shame and so out of touch with reality.

October 20, 2010 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

ProudIndependent

As long as the GOP keeps launching morons into the national spotlight, they will continue to further their own irrelevance. Let's not elect people too dumb to work at Dunkin' Doughnuts, please. I like my politicians smart.